Chromosome aberrations and urinary thioethers in smokers.

Chromosome aberrations, classified as chromosome- and chromatid-type aberrations, were evaluated in 94 individuals. The concentration of thioethers in the urine was also determined. The sample consisted of 41 non-smokers (control group) and 53 smokers, 25 smoked 10-20 cigarettes/day (subgroup IIA) and 28 smoked more than 20 cigarettes/day (subgroup IIB). Our aim was to perform internal dosimetry on smokers using a cytogenetic test, and a test for urinary excretion of thioethers, in order to determine the relation between these 2 methods of dosimetry. Our results show a higher frequency of chromosome aberrations (p less than 0.0001) and a higher excretion of urinary thioethers (p less than 0.0001) in smokers as compared to non-smokers. However, linear regression between these parameters was not statistically significant. In view of the variation between different individuals with regard to the amount of urinary thioethers, it seems more accurate to perform the biomonitoring of smoking by analyzing chromosome aberrations.